Friday the 13th

Today is the first of 3 Friday the 13ths this year. The next comes in March, followed by Nov. 13. Such a triple whammy comes around only every 11 years.

Did ya know...

~The British Navy built a ship named Friday the 13th. On its maiden voyage, the vessel left dock on a Friday the 13th, and was never heard from again.

~The ill-fated Apollo 13 launched at 13:13 CST on Apr. 11, 1970. The sum of the date's digits (4-11-70) is 13 (as in 4+1+1+7+0 = 13). And the explosion that crippled the spacecraft occurred on April 13 (not a Friday). The crew did make it back to Earth safely, however.

~Many hospitals have no room 13, while some tall buildings skip the 13th floor.

~Butch Cassidy, notorious American train and bank robber, was born on Friday, April 13, 1866.

~Fidel Castro was born on Friday, Aug. 13, 1926.

~The seals on the back of a dollar bill include 13 steps on the pyramid, 13 stars above the eagle's head, 13 war arrows in the eagle's claw and 13 leaves on the olive branch. So far there's been no evidence tying these long-ago design decisions to the present economic situation.